Deuteronomy 7:2

And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

And when the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} shall deliver {H5414} them before {H6440} thee; thou shalt smite {H5221} them, and utterly {H2763} destroy {H2763} them; thou shalt make {H3772} no covenant {H1285} with them, nor shew mercy {H2603} unto them:

When he does this, when ADONAI your God hands them over ahead of you, and you defeat them, you are to destroy them completely! Do not make any covenant with them. Show them no mercy.

and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.

and when Jehovah thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them;

Commentary

Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:2 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 7:2 presents a severe command from God to the Israelites as they prepare to enter and conquer the land of Canaan. This verse is part of Moses' final addresses to the nation, outlining the divine mandate for dispossessing the inhabitants and establishing Israel as God's holy nation.

Context

This verse follows the listing of the seven nations greater and mightier than Israel that God would deliver into their hands (Deuteronomy 7:1). The instructions here are not about indiscriminate slaughter, but a specific, divinely ordained judgment against the Canaanite peoples, whose "iniquity" had reached its full measure, as God had revealed centuries earlier to Abraham (Genesis 15:16). Their practices included child sacrifice, rampant idolatry, and gross immorality, which were an abomination to the Lord.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The command to "utterly destroy them" signifies God's righteous judgment against severe wickedness. It was an act of divine justice and purification of the land for His chosen people.
  • Holiness and Purity: A primary reason for this harsh command was to preserve Israel's spiritual purity and prevent them from being corrupted by the pagan practices of the Canaanites. God explicitly warns against the danger of assimilation and intermarriage in Deuteronomy 7:4, stating that it would lead them to "turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods."
  • Exclusivity of Worship: The instruction to "make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them" underscores God's demand for exclusive worship. Any treaty or act of mercy that allowed these nations to remain would inevitably lead to spiritual compromise and the adoption of their idolatrous ways.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "utterly destroy them" translates the Hebrew term herem (חרם), which means 'devotion to God by destruction' or 'to put under the ban'. It implies complete separation and destruction, not for personal gain or malice, but as an act of consecration to God. Items or people placed under herem were to be completely removed, preventing any contamination or compromise of Israel's covenant with God. This was a unique, specific command for that historical context, not a general principle for all warfare.

Practical Application

While this command is historically specific to ancient Israel and the conquest of Canaan, it carries profound spiritual lessons for believers today. We are called to be a holy people, set apart for God:

  • No Compromise with Sin: Spiritually, the command to "utterly destroy" and "make no covenant" can be understood as a call to deal decisively with sin, idolatry, and worldly influences in our lives. We are to "put off the old man" and "crucify the flesh" (Galatians 5:24), making no peace with practices or attitudes that oppose God's will.
  • Maintaining Spiritual Purity: Just as Israel was to avoid the corrupting influence of the Canaanites, believers are exhorted to guard their hearts and minds from the defilements of the world (James 1:27). This involves discerning relationships, media, and activities that could compromise our faith.
  • Obedience to God's Word: The severity of the command highlights the seriousness of obedience to God's specific instructions. Israel's failure to fully obey this command later led to significant spiritual downfall and apostasy, as documented in the Book of Judges (Judges 2:2-3). This reminds us that partial obedience is still disobedience and carries consequences.

Deuteronomy 7:2, though challenging to modern sensibilities, reveals God's absolute commitment to His people's holiness and His intolerance for spiritual corruption, emphasizing the critical importance of being set apart for Him.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 23:32 (6 votes)

    Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.

  • Exodus 23:33 (6 votes)

    They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

  • Judges 2:2 (6 votes)

    And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

  • Deuteronomy 20:16 (4 votes)

    But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

  • Deuteronomy 20:17 (4 votes)

    But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

  • Leviticus 27:28 (3 votes)

    Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, [both] of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing [is] most holy unto the LORD.

  • Leviticus 27:29 (3 votes)

    None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; [but] shall surely be put to death.